This Was Television On September 4

1972: The Price Is Right comes on down

Celebrating 40 years on the air today, The Price Is Right is the longest-running game show—and one of the longest-running series—in TV history. Contestants test their consumerist savvy in an array of pricing challenges, from colorful mini-games like Plinko, Cliff Hangers, and Pushover, to high-stakes set pieces like the Big Wheel and the Showcase Showdown. Hosted by Bob Barker for its first 35 years, The Price has featured 106 pricing games (74 of which are in the current rotation) in the course of over 7,600 episodes.

The current, CBS-produced version of The Price Is Right followed a little remembered incarnation which logged time on NBC and ABC between 1956-1963. The earlier Price differed in many respects; for instance, contestants primarily competed against one another in an auction-style bidding game, while host Bill Cullen famously ended each show by encouraging household pets to shag like bunnies. -A.D.